District 7 schools closer to linking computers

Published: Saturday, September 27, 1997 at 3:15 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, September 27, 1997 at 12:00 a.m.

Spartanburg County School District 7 is a step closer to setting up computer links between its students and the world.

Officials were notified Friday by the State Department of Education that the district will receive a $73,300 federal grant. Carol Gardner, assistant superintendent for instruction, said the money will buy routers to connect computers to online services. The money will supplement a $7 million technology upgrade planned by the district. This summer the district wired its school buildings, and the new grant money will connect the schools to each other and the outside world, Gardner said. The routers will cost about $66,000, and the district hopes to have them in place and the schools online by the end of October. The remainder of the grant will be used to set up five multi-media stations for teachers and students to work at their own pace. The new program will be set up at Spartanburg High School. Software will be installed to monitor participants' progress and their computer use, Gardner said. Internet access will be available first to math and English classes. The district has spent more than $1 million on its technology program so far. Most of it went for wiring the schools buildings to accommodate the computers. "The technology program is a way to help students be in line and online with the rest of the world," Gardner said.

<p> Spartanburg County School District 7 is a step closer to setting up computer links between its students and the world.</p><p>Officials were notified Friday by the State Department of Education that the district will receive a $73,300 federal grant. Carol Gardner, assistant superintendent for instruction, said the money will buy routers to connect computers to online services. The money will supplement a $7 million technology upgrade planned by the district. This summer the district wired its school buildings, and the new grant money will connect the schools to each other and the outside world, Gardner said. The routers will cost about $66,000, and the district hopes to have them in place and the schools online by the end of October. The remainder of the grant will be used to set up five multi-media stations for teachers and students to work at their own pace. The new program will be set up at Spartanburg High School. Software will be installed to monitor participants' progress and their computer use, Gardner said. Internet access will be available first to math and English classes. The district has spent more than $1 million on its technology program so far. Most of it went for wiring the schools buildings to accommodate the computers. "The technology program is a way to help students be in line and online with the rest of the world," Gardner said.</p>